Queensland Election 2009

[Garpal Gumnut]

My contacts in George St. and the highest eschelons of the ALP tell me that the election is on.

Brisconnect seems to have been the trigger.

The monumental blundering carcass of a road would have guaranteed Anna Bligh's despatch to the slushy end of the trench.

Watch this space for more.

I may vote ALP. I do like right wing governments and the Queensland Libs are too left for my liking and the Nationals don't exist anymore in that dog's dinner the LNP.

gg

 

[shaunQ]

I may vote ALP. I do like right wing governments and the Queensland Libs are too left for my liking and the Nationals don't exist anymore in that dog's dinner the LNP.

As an ex-nswelsh (yes I'm one of those imports) - it smells the same as with Iemma, everybody hates Labor but the bloody Libs/Nats can't put forward a viable alternative. Hopefully lots of respected independents will run as well.

I think this will also be the first time a woman has gone to the polls for premier.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

As an ex-nswelsh (yes I'm one of those imports) - it smells the same as with Iemma, everybody hates Labor but the bloody Libs/Nats can't put forward a viable alternative. Hopefully lots of respected independents will run as well.

I think this will also be the first time a woman has gone to the polls for premier.

You've got it in one mate.

I'll probably vote ALP, they are so right wing , best to stay with safety.

gg

 

[Julia]

As an ex-nswelsh (yes I'm one of those imports) - it smells the same as with Iemma, everybody hates Labor but the bloody Libs/Nats can't put forward a viable alternative. Hopefully lots of respected independents will run as well.

I hope so too. I would love to vote Labor out, particularly in respect to the diabolical disaster that is the Health system, but the Springborg & Co. option could be even worse.

I think this will also be the first time a woman has gone to the polls for premier.

What about Joan Kirner in Victoria and Carmen Lawrence in WA? Did they both inherit the Premier's position and then not stand for re-election?

 

[shaunQ]

What about Joan Kirner in Victoria and Carmen Lawrence in WA? Did they both inherit the Premier's position and then not stand for re-election?

I didn't know for sure, but did read somewhere they only took over control not elected... But have now done some research, they seem to have some bad "luck", as cynical as it may be, you wonder whether the boys club sits around and thinks - right all hell is about to break loose - quick, give it to a woman.

Later in 1988 Kirner was elected Deputy Premier. When Cain resigned after a collapse in his political support in August 1990, Kirner was elected Labor leader and thus became Victoria's first female Premier.
By this time the Labor government was in deep crisis, with the some of the state's financial institutions on the brink of insolvency, the budget deficit unsustainably high and growing and the Labor Party deeply divided on how to respond to the situation. The party hoped that the elevation of a popular woman as its new leader would improve its position, but Kirner never succeeded in gaining control of the crisis into which the state had plunged.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Kirner

In February 1990, Dowding was forced by his colleagues to resign. Lawrence, a prominent opponent within the Labor Party of Brian Burke's Right faction, of which Dowding was a member, replaced him as Premier on 12 February 1990.....
In the election held on 6 February 1993, the Lawrence government was defeated by the Liberal-National coalition and Richard Court, who had replaced Barry MacKinnon as opposition leader just a year earlier, became Premier

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Lawrence

 

[Calliope]

I mourn for Queensland. With the opposition we have up here Bligh is a lay down misere. In fact, if she had any guts, she could promise to build a dam and get in without help from the Greens.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I mourn for Queensland. With the opposition we have up here Bligh is a lay down misere. In fact, if she had any guts, she could promise to build a dam and get in without help from the Greens.

I don't believe there are any Greens in Queensland, nor are there Martians or believers in a flat Earth.

This glorious state, this garden of eden, is too busy providing good housing, jobs, education and a future for the masses of migrants shivering at our southern borders.

We have no time for greens.

My god Calliope, are you stark raving mad, a Green in George St.

Inconceivable.

gg

 

[Smurf1976]

In fact, if she had any guts, she could promise to build a dam and get in without help from the Greens.

You can go to an election with building a dam as your key policy and win a majority of seats at that election, thus becoming the government. You can then make every possible effort to build the dam, including starting actual construction, but still be stopped by the greens. It's been done before.

As an outsider, my perception of Qld is that they had a massive mining boom but somehow failed to gain much from it. That is, a huge boom but now it's over they're still stuck with all sorts of infrastructure and financial problems. Maybe not, I don't live there, but that's the impression I have.

 

[numbercruncher]

QLD will have no money to fix anything, just paying the wages is going to be a struggle for the state gov ......

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

You can go to an election with building a dam as your key policy and win a majority of seats at that election, thus becoming the government. You can then make every possible effort to build the dam, including starting actual construction, but still be stopped by the greens. It's been done before.

As an outsider, my perception of Qld is that they had a massive mining boom but somehow failed to gain much from it. That is, a huge boom but now it's over they're still stuck with all sorts of infrastructure and financial problems. Maybe not, I don't live there, but that's the impression I have.

QLD will have no money to fix anything, just paying the wages is going to be a struggle for the state gov ......

URANIUM

gg

 

[beerwm]

Ok, so labor has failed, health, economy, scandal after scandal, the list goes on.

But you will vote them in again???

No wonder QLD is in the mess they are in with that sort of attitude.

The LNP is not a viable alternative? where do people get this from? Have you seen a government run by the LNP in QLD, do you object to any major policies?
Sure they bicker when not in government... but has any party not in government been any different?

How anyone can tick the Labor box on election day totally bewilders me, sure you dont have to vote for the LNP but if you keep re-electing failure... what do you expect to get.

sigh.

 

[Stormin_Norman]

Have you seen a government run by the LNP in QLD, do you object to any major policies?

bring back joh ey?

 

[Julia]

Ok, so labor has failed, health, economy, scandal after scandal, the list goes on.

But you will vote them in again???

No wonder QLD is in the mess they are in with that sort of attitude.

The LNP is not a viable alternative? where do people get this from? Have you seen a government run by the LNP in QLD, do you object to any major policies?
Sure they bicker when not in government... but has any party not in government been any different?

How anyone can tick the Labor box on election day totally bewilders me, sure you dont have to vote for the LNP but if you keep re-electing failure... what do you expect to get.

sigh.

Well, if the LNP made clear any of its policies then we would have a chance to consider them. So far I'm unaware of a single policy put out by this Opposition. Some while ago I emailed them to ask for their policy on fluoride.
I'm still waiting for a reply.

Remember, Springborg has twice failed already.

With all their criticisms of Labor, they have not come up with any alternative.

 

[Julia]

As an outsider, my perception of Qld is that they had a massive mining boom but somehow failed to gain much from it. That is, a huge boom but now it's over they're still stuck with all sorts of infrastructure and financial problems. Maybe not, I don't live there, but that's the impression I have.

I'd say your impression is 100% accurate, Smurf.
No one knows where all the money has gone from the mining boom.
They have spent billions on a recycled water pipeline which they then decided not to use. They're still attempting to cover up all the failures in the health system.
I just can't wait to hear about all the new taxes when they are re-elected.

 

[beerwm]

My brother actually emailed on the flouride topic;

he got the reply,
basically stating [from memory] - we would have a referundum* and continue supply of flouride tablets of those who require/want them.

failing to get elected - doesnt mean he would of failed as a politician.

Unless ofcourse you think Al Gore would of done a worse job than George Bush.

But if you think Labor is the go... then dont let me talk you out of it.

 

[Trevor_S]

I mourn for Queensland. With the opposition we have up here Bligh is a lay down misere.

Which is unfortunate, as they have not been tried. Are you assuming the complete **** up that has been labor will be repeated even though they haven't been given a go ? and do you think that reelecting the Government that completely cocked it up, they will do a better job next time ?

In all good conscious, I haven't voted labor or liberal since I formed the opinion that neither is there for my or the states best interest, so I might as well give my vote to someone who will try. Like what the hell ... locally, the labor party has decided to appoint a soccer mum as the candidate for Townsville, now that Mike Reynolds has decided to retire, just what we need to help run a state ! I don't see anyone with an ounce of business acumen amongst them and people wander why the state is a mess ? A few trade union officials and party hacks (yes, that be you Craig Wallace, Lindy Nelson-Carr etc etc !) Independent it is again.

All very well and good to blame the Government, but the fault squarely lies with the people who elected them, though I talk to a lot of people and they are happy with labor, low expectations being met I guess.

 

[spottygoose]

You've got it in one mate.

I'll probably vote ALP, they are so right wing , best to stay with safety.

gg

Stay with safety? Surely you mean with dishonesty and mismanagement. My vote will not go with the ALP - their track record is a disgrace. I agree the alternative is not cohesive but I would rather give them a chance than reward a shocking performance. Now is the time to have good economic management as a focus in our resource rich state and I don't believe the ALP are capable.

 

[numbercruncher]

Queensland should get more Federal funding and money from all other state Governments to compensate for their citizens that move here to the sunny climes to retire and stretch our resources (especially hospitals) to breaking point .....

When Beatie was in he once said they didnt want anymore people moving here unless they had a skill that the state needed ....

I propose the cost of Interstate and NZ retirees/sickness beneficeries etc is lumped back onto their home states -

Many other things need to be considered, all rocks turned over,every avenue explored.

With a rapidly aging population Queenslands predicament is only going to get worse, the bill is going to be too great for this next generation of tax payers to bare ...

Queensland has just lost its AAA credit rating with much worse to come,,,, brace yerselfs ..

 

[shaunQ]

Queensland should get more Federal funding and money from all other state Governments to compensate for their citizens that move here to the sunny climes to retire and stretch our resources (especially hospitals) to breaking point .....

Qld does. They get a disproportion amount of the GST revenue, which NSW hates them for. I reckon you'll find the migration will start to reverse now, which is going to hit Qld even harder.

 

[Julia]

My brother actually emailed on the flouride topic;

he got the reply,
basically stating [from memory] - we would have a referundum* and continue supply of flouride tablets of those who require/want them.

failing to get elected - doesnt mean he would of failed as a politician.

Unless ofcourse you think Al Gore would of done a worse job than George Bush.

But if you think Labor is the go... then dont let me talk you out of it.

I thought I'd made it pretty clear that I think Labor is anything but "the go"!

Re fluoride: do you remember when your brother received that info? I find it a bit hard to believe that they would hold a referendum, especially considering the cost of so doing, when the fluoride has already gone into much of the water supply.

Fair point about Springborg's failure to be elected not necessarily reflecting his failure in potential office.

At this stage, unless some promising Independent appears, I'll vote for the LNP.

Numbercruncher: re costs of imported people being sent back to their country/state of origin, this already happens for anyone on any sort of welfare from NZ (and I think some other Commonwealth countries) via the Reciprocal Agreement.